French: Tarrasch, Closed – f6, Qc7, Bg5

French: Tarrasch

Definition

The Tarrasch Variation of the French Defence begins with the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2. By putting the knight on d2 instead of the more common c3, White avoids the pin …Bb4 of the Winawer, keeps the c-pawn free to advance to c4 later, and prepares the central thrust e4–e5 under favourable circumstances.

Strategic Ideas

• Flexibility: The knight on d2 can later drop back to f1–g3 or jump to b3 and c5, depending on Black’s set-up.
• Control of the centre: White supports the pawn wedge e4–e5, often leading to a space advantage and cramping the black pieces.
• Reduced theory load: Compared with the very concrete Winawer (3.Nc3 Bb4), the Tarrasch requires less memorisation, making it popular at club level.

Historical Notes

Named after Dr Siegbert Tarrasch (1862-1934), one of the great classical players and writers. Tarrasch used the move 3.Nd2 with success against contemporaries such as Mieses and Schlechter, praising its logical restraint.

Typical Move Orders

The variation branches early:

1. Open System: 3…c5 4.exd5 exd5, leading to IQP positions.
2. Closed System: 3…Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7, reaching the structure that contains the “Closed” sub-variation discussed below.
3. Rubinstein: 3…dxe4 4.Nxe4, leading to open piece play.

Example Game

Adams – Gelfand, Linares 2001, featured an instructive Closed Tarrasch where White’s space advantage eventually decided the game.
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Interesting Facts

• Bobby Fischer, usually an e4-player, used 3.Nd2 to beat GM Fridrik Olafsson (Havana 1965).
• The Tarrasch is the only major French line in which White can castle kingside without confronting the Winawer bishop pin.

Closed (in the French Tarrasch)

Definition

The “Closed” label generally refers to the position after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7. The pawn chain c2-d4-e5 versus d5-e6 stifles central exchanges, producing manoeuvring play behind locked pawns.

Main Plans

• White: Support e5 with f4 or c3, expand on the kingside with Nf3-g5, and prepare c4 or f5 breaks.
• Black: Counter with …c5 and …f6, chip away at e5, and exploit the dark-square bishop once the centre opens.

Theoretical Branches

1. 5.f4 (Classical Closed) – aggressive, often leading to opposite-wing attacks.
2. 5.Bd3 – a Karpov favourite, retaining flexibility about f-pawn advance.
3. 5.c3 – solid, limiting …c5 but giving Black time for …b6 and …Ba6.

Model Encounter

Karpov – Short, Candidates 1992, showed Black’s thematic break …f6 and White’s counterplay on the dark squares. The game is a textbook illustration for the next two sub-concepts.

8…f6 9.exf6

Definition

In many Closed-Tarrasch lines Black eventually strikes at the base of White’s pawn chain with the pawn thrust …f6. The typical sequence …f6 exf6 (often on moves 8-9 or thereabouts) opens the f-file and the long diagonal for Black’s light-squared bishop, but also saddles Black with an isolated or doubled f-pawn.

Strategic Significance

• Dynamic imbalance: Black obtains open lines and central counterplay; White targets structural weaknesses.
• Piece activity: The black knight from f6 frequently recaptures on f6, heading for g4 or e4, while White’s light-squared bishop eyes h7 and e6.
• Timing critical: If Black prepares …f6 too slowly, White can reinforce e5 and keep a long-term space advantage.

Typical Continuations

After 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ngf3 f6 8.exf6 (diagram):

1. 8…Nxf6 aiming for …Bd6 and …0-0.
2. 8…gxf6 – sharper, opening the g-file for counter-attack (favoured by Shirov).

Illustrative Game

Shirov – Anand, Wijk aan Zee 1998: Black chose 8…gxf6, voluntarily accepting doubled pawns but obtaining ferocious play on the g-file culminating in a queen sacrifice and eventual victory.
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Trivia

Grandmaster Viktor Korchnoi was fond of provoking …f6 and then hammering the backward e6-pawn in endgames where the f-pawn structure proved more liability than asset.

11…Qc7 12.Bg5

Definition

Further along the same Closed-Tarrasch line, the quiet retreating move 11…Qc7 places the queen on a safer square, over-protects e5, and lines up with the half-open f-file. White’s reply 12.Bg5 typically pins the f6-knight, undermining Black’s central control and preparing ideas such as Re1 or Qe2.

Positional Themes

• Dark-square pressure: Bg5 highlights the weakness of e6 and can force …Be7, which partially neutralises Black’s key bishop.
• Minor-piece tension: Black must decide whether to break the pin with …h6, exchange on g5, or hold tight and rely on …Bd6.
• Queen placement: …Qc7 connects rooks and eyes the c-file after …cxd4 cxd4.

Reference Line

One standard sequence (originating from the 5.Bd3 system) runs:

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7  5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ngf3 f6 8.exf6 Nxf6  9.0-0 cxd4 10.cxd4 Bd6 11.Re1 Qc7 12.Bg5.

Game Example

Korchnoi – Uhlmann, Candidates 1971, followed the diagrammed line. After 12…0-0 Black was gradually out-manoeuvred; Korchnoi exploited the pin to open the e-file and win the e6-pawn.

Interesting Anecdotes

• The move 12.Bg5 has been dubbed the “eternal pin” by some trainers because, in many French structures, the knight on f6 cannot comfortably move for the rest of the middlegame.
• In the computer-assisted era, engines often suggest early tactical breaks like 12…Nxd4!? sacrificing a pawn to shatter the pin, but human players usually prefer the calmer 12…0-0.